7 Steps to Set up Your Baby Nursery

One of the best things when having a baby is when you are finally at that stage when you need to go shopping. And of course, create and decorate your baby’s special place in your home! It is an exciting and rewarding process, so I will share some tips (and my experiences too!) in setting up your baby nursery at home. 

First things first – find a place to set up your baby nursery. Thankfully, we have a spare guest room to convert to a baby nursery. If you don’t have a spare room, you can find pockets of space around the house to set up your baby nursery. For instance, you can place it right in your bedroom. Even your living area will do! 

This post was last updated on 23 January 2023.

7 Steps to Set up Your Baby Nursery 

1. Dedicate a sleeping zone

This is where you will place the baby cot – the centrepiece of your baby nursery. You want to get a strong and sturdy one, and of course, one that will keep your baby safe. We definitely don’t want them falling off their beds, so get a cot that has secure railings. Babies tend to spend 12 to 15 hours a day sleeping, so we should also make sure that the cot is comfortable for them.

We got this Bonbijou Baby Cot – it is a 5-in-1 cot that can transform into a playpen and toddler bed as our baby grows up! Babies grow up really fast, and I always look to get good-quality items that can last longer. 

Beddings and pillows

The baby cot will not be complete without fitted sheets, blankets and pillows. You’d want your baby to feel comfortable at all times, so it is better to get beddings that are 100% cotton. The mattress must be soft and temperature-regulating. Make sure that the beddings meet the safety standards as well, and that they won’t give your baby the itch.

Tip: Buy lots of bedsheets for your little one. Unless you want to spend more time doing laundry, you might want to have some extra sheets on hand. Be sure to also get sheets that are machine washable! 

Baby monitor

For safety purposes, you may place a baby monitor so you can keep tabs on your baby through the night. What we currently use for Baby # 2 is the iBaby Care M8 from Trekvue, which is so fantastic that it almost feels like we have another baby caretaker in the house! It features a wide array of smart functions, including a 360° pan and 105° tilt viewing range. It even doubles as a soothing night lamp for your little one! 

Do also check out the Vava Baby Monitor which has a large 5” 720P display and automatic night vision. 

2. Set up a changing station

This is the spot you will frequently visit, about 6 to 10 times a day to change your baby’s diapers. While it is possible to change your baby in the cot or on a floor mattress or a waterproof mat, it may not be the best idea for your back considering you will be doing it way too often. What you can do instead, is find a dedicated changing table or DIY a makeshift one with a high table (or dresser) and a changing board. You can even set up a changing station by placing a changing board on top of your baby cot for a space-saving option.

Once your changing table is all set up, place all your diapering essentials here within easy reach. You will need diapers, wipes, cotton balls, diaper cream, powder, sanitiser, and rompers. You will want to make sure all the items you need are there beforehand. Try not to baby unattended midway through the change. This Munchkin Diaper Duty Organizer will do you wonders! Place also a diaper bin next to your changing station for soiled diapers and wipes. 

If you are lacking space, you can opt for a foldable changing station. But if you have more than enough, you can also add a dresser changing table with drawers for storage.

3. Have a comfortable nursing area

This is where you will nurse, pump or feed your baby. Some of you might be looking at getting a glider or a rocking chair so you can soothe your baby while nursing, but otherwise, an armchair does the job too. It is important to get a comfortable nursing chair as you will spend quite a lot of time here. An ergonomic chair works fine too! 

Place a side table next to your trusted chair for you to place your breast pump, bottles, sterilisers, and so on. Do place a nightlight nearby too in case your baby gets hungry in the middle of the night and you do not want the lighting to be too bright. This way, both you and the baby can have an easier time falling back to sleep after. You can read through here if you want to buy more furniture for your nursing area.

Nursing pillow

For comfortable nursing sessions, do also get a nursing pillow to help you better support the baby (and save your aching arms) during feeds. A nursing pillow is such a lifesaver! 

4. Organise your storage area

You will be surprised how much baby stuff you will need to store! Babies are so little and yet their things take up too much space. Baby diapers and clothes especially take up quite a bit of space so you will definitely want an organised storage system. You can put an additional rack or an IKEA storage caddy in your wardrobe to add more rail space. I put one in ours and it created so much more usable space! 

If you are really strapped in space, I suggest that you get furniture that doubles as a storage area. For instance, you can add an ottoman seat in your nursery (which could also hide some of your baby’s stuff!) or a changing area that doubles as a dresser. Do also take advantage of wall space – there are lots of hanging storage areas that you might want to check out. 

5. Add a sleeping area for you or your helper (if needed)

If you have a confinement nanny or a maid, you can place a sofa bed or foldable floor mattress (a much better option as it is inexpensive and versatile!) in the room.

During the first 3 months, you or dad may need a spot to crash in your baby’s room because of the frequent late-night feeds and you do not want to wake up your partner by going in and out of bed so often.

6. Set up a play area

If you have additional space, you can set up a play area in your nursery. Otherwise, it can be in your living area too. For our play area, we got a Creamhaus Bumper Bed House because it is absolutely adorable with its unique dream house design! You can also add a small bookshelf to place books and toys. If you have limited space, you can opt for floating shelves to utilise wall space. 

A sturdy and good-quality play mat is also a  must – try to avoid getting the cheap ones as my mum friends told me that they tend to sink in or wear and tear really fast. They are also not easy to clean. Also, cheap brandless ones can contain harmful chemicals. 

While good-quality playmats are not cheap, they will last you a long time. We got ours from Primo Babies because their play mats are soft, waterproof, durable and even scratch-resistant. Made in Korea, most importantly, their mats are certified safe, free of harmful chemicals and eco-friendly. 

7. Add ambience to your nursery

To transform your room into a baby paradise, you can wallpaper your walls with a beautiful design. Remember –  wallpapers (and other wall decors!) are good for babies because of visual stimulation. I recommend seeking out wallpaper experts Wallhub. They carry an extensive range of intricate and vibrant designs that will make your nursery look absolutely gorgeous. Be sure to view their Little House, Nordic Nursery and Europe Whimsical collections. 

Curtains are also a must. They should have a really thick fabric, or you can just opt for a black-out shade to help the baby get some naps during the day. You can also opt to add a rug, especially if you have hardwood floors. 

More tips from TWV:

• Invest in long-lasting and multi-purpose furniture. You’d want the furniture to grow with your child.
• Personalise the space. A stylish nursery would be amazing, but it’s much better that it won’t look exactly like a furniture shop showroom. You can add some personalised items (i.e. paintings, letter blocks, cushions, hanging decors, etc.)
• Do not overstimulate. Too many striking colours can be tough for infants, so better stick with minimalist and simple colour schemes at first. 
• Pick a focal point, like a beautiful crib and use it as an inspiration when it comes to decorating the entire room.
• Repurpose furniture. Not everything has to be new, and creating your baby’s nursery definitely does not have to break the bank.

We hope that our guide in setting up your baby nursery will help you out in your journey as an expecting mum. If you found this useful, please share it with your friends and family!

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